With coking coal prices at historic highs, BHP Billiton and the CFMEU (mining & energy division) are in the middle of a showdown in the Illawarra region of NSW that could threaten the supply of high grade coal to the nearby BlueScope steelworks.
An overweight coal miner sacked three times by Anglo Coal's Capcoal operations for being unfit for work has won a discrimination claim against the company after it then refused to let him on site at a different mine.
A five-member full bench of the NSW IRC (in Court Session) has clarified the meaning of the State Government's 2002 legislative amendments that were intended to curb use of the s106 unfair contract jurisdiction by high-income earners.
Almost two-thirds of manufacturers employing more than 100 people are experiencing difficulty in recruiting skilled workers, underlining the need for business and government to develop strategies to close the "skills gap", according to the Australian Industry Group.
A permanent sub-committee made up of union, staff and management representatives will monitor workloads under a new enterprise agreement struck between the federal Department of Health and Ageing and five unions.
A standalone Work and Family Act containing new legal rights would be established, along with a Work and Family Commissioner to oversee it, while working parents would be entitled to up to 30 hours a week of free childcare, under the work/life policy the Democrats will take to the October 9 federal election.
An AIRC full bench has found that the Commission has the power to certify a s170LJ union-employer enterprise agreement once it has been made, even if a party principal seeks to withdraw from the deal before it goes to a ballot or is explained to employees.
A Cairns adventure tourism operator has been ordered to pay a former manager $26,750 in damages, lost earnings and interest after being found to have discriminated against her on the basis of her pregnancy and parental status.
The main perceived benefit of being a casual worker - the loading - is less valuable than believed, with many workers in reality getting an hourly premium of less than 10%, according to new research by ACIRRT.
